Pages Of Love: Malyn Aquino

Chapter 3

At around seven the guest were already welcomed by my parents in our house. Pagkatapos akong mapaipakilala bilang kanilang bunsong anak dumating na rin si Avery at ganon rin ang ginawa ng aming mga magulang.

Nagkayayaan na kaagad sa dining para sa dinner. Napansin ko rin na wala pa si Kuya Nixon at hanggang sa lumipas na ang ilang minuto wala pa ring Nixon ang dumarating, noong una kalmado pa sina tita Angelina ngunit matapos ang isang tawag saka lamang sinabi ng mga ito na hindi na makakarating ang kanilang anak. Humingi pa ang mga ito ng paumanhin dahil na rin sa wala ang presensya ng kanilang anak na pakiramdam ko ay lubhang ikinasiya ni Avery.

Hindi man halata pero hindi ko pinalagpas ang lahat ng iyon, every details tonight was imprinted in my head. Not that because I was really interested at them at all. But because of what I've heard last night.

"Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwalang dalaga na ang anak mong si Malyn. The last time I saw her she's still a little girl but now look at her, she's a well grown up woman." may paghangang wika ni tita Angelina habang magkakasama pa rin kami sa mesa.

Bahagyang uminit lang ang aking pisngi dahil sa papuri nya, pero dahil sa hindi naman ako talaga natural na mahiyain kaagad rin iyong napalitan ng kompyansa sa sarili.

"Thank you, tita." I uttered silently with knitted forehead. It's been a year or so when the last time we paid them a visit at their lavished house in San Juan. And I think wala naman masyadong nabago sa hitsura ko mula noon.

"Sinabi mo pa Angelina, time flies so fast. My daughters grew up beautiful, elegant, smart and God-feared women." mom said proudly while glancing at me and Avery with a merilly disposition.

"And how are you young Madame? I've heard lots of tremendous news about you."

"I'm good Tita, hope all of that news reached you fairly." Avery answered politely then glancing at me.

I raised my brow at her. If she was insinuating something then sorry to her I am not affected. Pero bahagya akong napakunot noo ng marinig ang komento ni Mom.

"Is that true Molly?"

"Yes, Angelina. Avery is like her father, she's too focused on managing our company and yet she has time on putting her own cafe."

"Bakit hindi ko alam yon?" I looked at Dad, he didn't look surprised so does that mean he knew about it. Pero bakit ako hindi ko iyon alam. Matalim kong tinapunan ng tingin si ate Avery. "How come I haven't inform about it? Hello people, I am part of the family also." I smiled at her while waving. "Right Mom?" binalingan ko si Mom at hindi ipinakita na medyo na offend ako doon.

"You were out of the country when I acquired the cafe. We told you about it beforehand but you fled still and enjoyed your so-called career." Avery told me like it was nothing.

Tumikhim naman si Mommy kaya napalingon akong muli sa kanya, doon ko lang naalala na nasa harapan kami ng mga bisita. "Yeah, sorry about that sis. That won't happen again. Anyway, congratulations!" I said in a cheerful voice but deep inside I was hurt a bit.

The night ran old and later I asked them for my excuse of leaving, was felt exhausted of the visit. Kaya naman si ate Avery nalang ang naiwan kasama nila Mom at Dad para i-entertain ang dalawang bisita.

Ayoko man mag isip ng gabing iyon pero hindi ko mapigilan. Ganoon na ba kataas ang pader na nakapagitan sa aming dalawa ni Avery kaya may mga bagay o importanteng pangyayari sa kanyang buhay na hindi ko na alam. Hawak ang aking cellphone muntik ko ng abalahin ang aking kaibigan, gusto ko ng kausap pero ayoko naman na maglabas na lang ng sama ng loob palagi kay Lafayette. Ayokong umalis siya na mabigat ang loob dahil sa kakaisip ng mga problema ko. Ang gusto ko kung aalis man siya yung wala siyang ibang inaalala. I've known her for ages and for sure she will get involved herself into my problem even though it wasn't needed.